Why Harambee Stars’ next 2 WC qualifiers are decisive
By Luke Oluoch, September 3, 2025The Kenya national team, Harambee Stars, will on Friday, September 5, 2025, take on The Gambia in the ongoing 2026 World Cup qualifier match.
The clash will be the first of a double-header that will conclude on Tuesday, September 9, with a tie against Seychelles.
For Benni McCarthy’s side, the clashes come at a make-or-break moment as Kenya seeks to get its campaign back on track.
Kenya has so far amassed six points after playing as many games in Group F. The points rank them four points below their neighbourly rivals, who rank third with ten points.
Meanwhile, continental giants Ivory Coast dictate proceedings atop the group with 16 points, with Gabon second with 15 points.
However, much of the significance of the next ties for Kenya lies in the context of the opposition.
Matchdays seven and eight see Stars face two sides ranked below them in Group F, with the ties coming just halfway through the campaign set to decide where McCarthy’s team could stand.
Kenya’s chances could as well be called by the end of the ties. A dream result of maximum points will not only lift Kenya’s point haul to 12 points but also put daylight between them and the two rivals. ahead of the penultimate and final clash against Burundi and Ivory Coast, respectively.
With only group winners assured of qualification for the coveted global showpiece, surmounting the gap with Gabon and Ivory Coast remains a tough ask.
Positive results
Interestingly. Kenya has been at the end of positive results against the highly ranked West African, recording a draw against the Ivory Coast and losing a crucial one-goal lead against Gabon in the first leg, pitting the two teams.
On the flip side, ceding more ground will certainly wrap the campaign up for Kenya, as group leaders, the Ivorians are only a win away from opening an insurmountable gap against Kenya.
Following a draw with Gambia in matchday five that resuscitated Kenya’s chances in the last outing, McCarthy and the Harambee Stars must put the newfound form to use and use the home advantage to shore up their quest for the World Cup.